Measured-service telephone system



'1. WICKS.

MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB.I2,1919- l ,37 9 ,068. Patented May 24, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I Juhn Ell/55KB.

J. WICKS. MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

2 SHEEIS--SHEET Z.

Patented May 24, 1921.

APPLIC ATION HLED FEB. 12, I919. 1,379,068.

- Jzjhn ZnfmKsQ Fm'gf UNITED STATES JOHN WICKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR I'O AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC COMPANY,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEASURED-SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24., 1921.

'To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JoHN WICKS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, and State tomatic telephone system and more specifically to an improved means for controlling a measured service device or meter in a system of the automatic type.

Amon theobjects of my invention are to simpllfy the devices necessary for measured service systems and to provide an improved system in which the meter will not be falsely operated when calling special calls such as ring back numbers in which ringing current is projected back over the calling line.

The above object is accomplished by delaying the operation of the meter in such a manner thatthe polarized relay used for controlling the same must be energized by a permanent reversal of current before the meter will operate and therefore any fluttering or false .operating of said relay by ringing current will not operate the meter.

These features of my invention will be explained more in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows an established connection from a calling subscriber through a primary and secondary line switch, and Fig. 2 shows the continuation of said connection through a selector and connector switch to a called subscribers line.

In this case the meter controlling relay which is usually associated with each line or line switch is made common to a plurality of lines in a manner similar to that shown in an application of Arthur J. Ray, Set. No..

4573 of '1915 filed January 26, 1915, renewed August 26, 1918, Serial No. 251,541.

Patent No. 1,304,369, granted May 20, 1919:

' subscriber at A Calls a subscriber such as B. I will explain the operation of the various switches onlygenerally, such switches being well known n the art.

over this circuit.

When a subscriber A removes his receiver to initiate a call a circuit is closed for the line relay 2 of the primary line switch 0 in series with the calling line. Relay 2 closes the circuit of the pull in winding 3 to attract the plunger and close the springs 4, 5, 6 and 7 in contact to extend the line circuit to a second line switch D. The relay 2 is also disconnected from the line circuit but maintains the circuit of winding 3 closed until ground is supplied to the holding winding 8 over the release trunk from the switch ahead. As soon as springs 6 close contact, a circuit is closed for the meter Z through the upper winding of a special relay 9 which is one of the common group of meter controlling relays E associated with the trunk to a secondary line switch. The up-. per winding'of relay 9 is of such high resistance that the meter Z does not energize Relay 9 however energizes to close a circuit at springs 10 for the pull in winding 11 of the secondary line switch D through springs 12 and 13 and relay 14 to battery. Relay 14 energizes to connect ground to the release trunk to hold winding 8 of line switch C energized and winding 11 operates to plunge the line switch and close in contact the pairs of springs 15, 16, 17 and 18 to extend the line circuit toa first selector F (Fig. 2)". Also winding 11 operates to open the springs 12 and 13 and connect the winding 11 through springs 19 and 12 in series with the high resistance holding winding 20 to maintain the connection. Relay 14 being slowv acting holds ound from springs 10 to keep the line swltch C energized. This ground on the release trunk also passes through the sprmgs 21 and slow relay 22 of the group of relays E and through the lower winding of the electro polarized relay 23. -Relay22 energizes over this circuit, but relay 23 s so adjusted that it will not energize with either its upper or lower winding alone nor when both windings are energized by current flowing in op osite directions but only when both windings assist-each other. The lower.

winding alone will hold the relay in energized position when its armatures have oncebeen attracted. Relay 22 upon energizing, opens the springs 24 in the ClICIIIt'Of the lower winding of, relay 9. Relay 22 also opens a pair of springs 26 which remove a short circuit from theupper winding of relay 23 and allows eurrent to flow there:

through; A non-inductive resistance 23 is shunted about the upper winding of relay 23 to allow a free path for voice currents. When the springs 15 and 18 of the line switch D close, the line circuit is extended to a selector switch F (Fig. 2) and a circuit is closed for the line relay 27 thereof in series with the extended line circuit and with the upper winding of relay 23 in the set of relays E. Relay 23 does not energize at this time as current now flows in opposite directions in its two windings.

The relay 27 is now controlled by the impulse sender of the calling line to operate the selector F to select an idle trunk to a connector H. Relay 27 when first energized closes a circuit for relay 28 to pre pare a circuit for the vertical magnet 29 and supply ground to the release trunk to hold the switches C & D from releasingand to hold the circuits of the trunk relays 22 and 23 closed. When relay 27 responds to impulses it closes a circuit intermittently for the vertical magnet 29 and the slow relay 30 in series to raise the wipers to a desired row or level of contacts. Relay 30 closes the circuit of relay 31 which in turn prepares a circuit for the rotary magnet 32 which is closed after the first series of impulses when relay 30 falls back. If the trunk llne seized by the first energization of the rotary magnet is busy, a ground is present on the pr1vate contact thereof which again energlzes relay 31 after its circuit is closed by the deenergization of the rotary magnet and therefore the circuit of the rotary magnet is closed and the wipers are stepped to the next set of contacts and so on. When an idle trunk is reached the ground s no longer present and relay 33 1s energlzed over a circuit in series with the relay 31, which latter relay does not energlze due to the high resistance of the relay 33. Relay 33 upon energizing. disconmeets the var-ions magnets and relays of the selector F from the talking circuit and ex tends said talking circuit through the wipers and the selzed trunk to the line relay 34 of the connector H.

Relay of the connector energizes and closes a circuit for slow relay 35 which grounds the release trunk back to the selector and line switches and prepares a circult for the vertical magnet 36. When relay 34 responds to the next series of impulses the relay 34 controls the vertical magnet 1n series with slow relay 37 to step the wipers to a desired level of contacts in which are located the contacts to which the called line is connected. After this series of impulses, relay 37 falls back to prepare a circuit for the rotary magnet 38 and the slow relay 39 through the now closed off normal springs 40. When relay 34 operates for the next series of impulses, the rotary magnet 38 is operated to step the wipers to the contacts of the desired line and relay 39 energizes and remains energized for a short interval after the wipers reach the called line. If the called line is busy and a ground present on the test conductor thereof, a circuit will be closed through front contact of relay 39 for the busy relay 41 which will lock up and transmit a busy signal. If the called line is idle then relay 41 will not be energized and as soon as relay 39 falls back-after the line relay 34 comes to rest energized, a circuit is closed for the lower winding of relay 42 in series with the cut off winding of the line switch C. Relay 42 and the cut off winding energize in series. Relay 42 disconnects the rotary magnet to prevent further operation and cuts the called line through to the ringing circuit which leads from the back contact of relay 43 and which includes one winding of relay 43 and battery, so that when the called man responds to the signal he closes the circuit of relay 43 which cuts off the ringing circuit and cuts the called line to the windings of the back bridge or reversing relay 44. Relay 44 therefore energizes in series with the called line circuit and operates to reverse the connection of the line relay 34 with regard to the-talking circuit and thus reversing the direction of the current flow in the calling line and through the upper winding of the relay 23 at E. Relay 23 will energize at this time to close the springs 25 which close one point in the circuit including the lower winding of relay 9 and the meter magnet Z which circuit is still open at springs 24 of relay 22. Relay 23 also opens the circuit of slow relay 22at springs 21. Relay 22 will after a short interval, which will be long enough to be sure that the battery is permanently reversed in the circuit, deenergize and close the springs 24 and 26. Springs 24 now complete the circuit including the meter and the comparatively low resistance winding of relay 9 and therefore cause the meter Z to operate and register the call. The springs 26 operat to short circuit the upper winding of relay 23 to prevent any further changes in the line circuit from affecting the operation of said relay, which is held energized by its lower winding alone. Thus it will be seen that should relay 23 be energized only nunnentarily, either by ringing current from a ring back switch or from only a movement of the hook at the called station, Without staying energized long enough for the relay 22 t0 deenergize, the meter will not be operated as the springs of the relay 22 directly control the meter operating circuit as well as the circuit which short circuits the line winding of the relay 23.

Thus it will be seen that my invention is especially adapted for party line systems in which it is desired to ring another party on the same line by sending alternating current back over the extended connection, or in a semi automatic system in which the operation is brought in on the connection to signal the other one of a pair of lines or in factin an system where a meter of this character 1s used,and where there is any chance of the current in the line being reversed momentarily when it is not desired to operate the meter. Although I have shown my meter controlling system in a simple connection without a rin back switch or other details, it is thou ht t at themanner in which the meter is ere shown is sufficiently clear to show all its details and feacuit therefor, a meter controlling relay,

means for operating said meter controllin rela to close one point of said circuit, an auxiliary controlling means for delayin the operation of said meter by holding sai circuit open at another'point;

2. In a telephone system, a meter, a circuittherefor, a 'meter controlling relay, means for operating said meter controlling relay to close said clrcuit at one point, and a slow acting relay for delaying the complete closure of said circuit for a certain time interval.

3. In a telephone system, a calling line, a called line, means for establishing a talking circuit between said'lines, means confor'reversing the currentin said talking circuit, a relay responsive to said reversalof current, a meter, for the calling line'having a circuit controlled 'bysaid relay, and additional means for delaying the closure of said circuit'after the relay is operated.

4. In a telephone'system, a calling line, a called line,-means for establishing a talking circuit between said lines, means controlled by the subscriber on the called line for reversing the current in said talking circuit either momentarily or permanently, a relay responsive to said reversal of current, a meter for the calling line controlled by'said relay, and additional means for the operation of the meter when is reversed momentarily. 7

-5.' In a telephone system, a calling line, a called line, means for establishing a talking reventing are current '..circuit between said lines, means controlled by thg subscriber on the called line for re- ??rsing th curren in am talking circuit either intermittently or permanently, a relay responsive to said reversal of current, a meter for the calling line controlled by said relay, and additional means for preventing the operation of the meter when the current is reversed intermittently.

6. In'a telephone system, a calling and a called line together with means for establishing a talking circuit between them and having means for reversing the current flow in said talking circuit momentarily, a meter 'for one of said lines, a relay for controlling said meter responsive to each reversal of current, and additional means for preventing the operation of the meter when the current is reversed.

7. In a telephone system, a calling and a ,called line to ether with means for establishing a talklng circuit between them and having means for reversing the current flow in said talking circuit momentarily, a meter for one of said lines, a relay for controlling said meter responsive to each reversal of current, and delaying means controlled by said relay for'preventing the operation of the meter.

'meter, and additional means for delaying. the

operation of the .meter after its circuit has been prepared by said relay.

9. In a telephone system, lines, a register for each line, a trunk line common to said .lines, means for extending a'talking circuit from any line over the trunk line, a relay associated with said trunk, a circuit for the trolled by the subscriber on the called line register controlled by' said relay, another relay controlled by said first relay having means 'for controlling the first relay and the the register circuit a certain interval of time after said circuit is controlled by the operation of the first relay. a

10. In a telephone system, a plurality of lines, a service recorder for each line, an-

JOHN wIoKs.

circuit, said other relay always controlling 

